A replica of Christopher Columbus’s flagship, the Santa Maria, sailed into Newburyport Harbor as part of its tour of the Caribbean and American East Coast. The 15th century replica cargo vessel is here in the Americas celebrating the 225 anniversary of Columbus’s voyage of discovery.
Built in Spain, the Nao Santa Maria weighs in at 200 tons. It sailed past the Newburyport Rear Range Lighthouse on the evening of May 31st, as it entered the harbor, thrilling the lighthouse guests, who were dining at the top of the lighthouse tower. It stayed for a week of festivities, open house tours, and parties before continuing its summer tour up the American coastline.
Interestingly, it is conjectured that Columbus’s uncle, Antonio, who served as the lighthouse keeper in Genoa, Italy, was instrumental in helping to inspire the famous explorer to learn about navigation and go to sea.
